, 1887-08-19
SETTLERS IN DANGER.
ColoroW May Murder and Steal in
Snake River Valley.
The Hostile Utes Still in the Vicinity
of Meeker, Col.
1t is Said They are Lurking for
Sheriff Kendall.
Twenty Armed Men Required to
Guard a Stage Coach.
Special dispatch to The Leader.

Special dispatch to The Leader.
RAwLINs, Wyo., Sept. 1S.-The stage
has just arrived from Meeker, and the
passengers and driver are alternately
smiling at their luck in reaching the city
alive and curse their timidity.
The driver, a reliable and trustworthy
man who has resided in this country for
years, states that it is an absolute fact
that $50 bucks. well armed and gaudily
painted, Joined Colorow near Meeker last
Tuesday. The savages seem to be circu-
lating about this settlement with no
definite object.
A number of Utes visit Meeker daily
and from them, several of whom are
friendly to the whites and understand
and speak English almost perfectly the
movements and plans of crafty and
blood thirsty old chiefs who is leading the
outbreak are learned.
From what he could hear the driver
avs it is the announced and fixed pur-
pose Of Colorow to trap and kill Sheriff
Kendall and party, for whom he has con-
ceiyed an undying hatred. With this OBJ
ject in view the Indians Turk in the can
yons and ravines near White river, hop
ing and endeavoring to ambush and MUIR
der the brave official and his posse.
If Kendall and his men continue the
pursuit they will certainly be killed, as
Colorow will not and cannot be whipped
or driven from the country by a small
force of men, no matter how determined
they may be.
The Indians have so far retrained from
numbering settlers and driving off stock.
The reason for this is clearly shown above.
The great and overpowering desire of
Colorow and his followers is to secure the
scalp of the sheriff who exhibited the
unparalleled audacity of attempting to
arrest and Jail a good Indian" Theleader
of the redskins was in earnest when he
cursed the officers and everyone else who
attempted to interfere with himself or
members of his tribe.
1t is evident to all acquainted with the
customs of the Utes, and the people of
this section have traded with them and
fought them for years, that the savages
now bivouacked on the White river will
not long maintain their present attitude.
The Utes are even more restless than the
average Indian. In a few days, perhaps
in a few hours, they will weary of waiting
for lambs for the slaughter, as Kendall and
his men would certainly be. Then they
will strike for the Uintah agency IN Utah.
The tracks made on this trip will Jun
doubtedly be obliterated by the blood of
their victims.
The Indians would scarcely have the
hardihood to attack a settlement so large
as Meeker, which is quite a village. In all
probability they. would hold a carnival of
murder in the fertile valley of the Snake
river, which is only about fifty miles from
the present location Of the Indians. In
this section are fully 200 families scat
tered along the stream for a distance of
sixty miles. Every settler could be
killed, ranch burned and horses stolen by
a force of twenty-five Indians before aid
or assistance could reach the unprotected
ranchmen. Many of the latter receive
mail every two weeks, and a majority OF
them are probably unaware that hostile
Indians are liable to attack them at any
moment.
Troops are needed, and badly needed.
A sufficient force of infantry and cavalry,
if properly managed, could force the In,
dams TO return to their reserve inside OF
twenty-four hours. Unless the govern
ment takes some action in the matter
soon the company recently organized here
will advance upon the hostiles. The peo-
pie of Rawlins do not propose to remain
passive and allow the savages to pounce
upon their unprotected and helpless
neighbors unawares.
Twenty mounted and well armed men
guarded the stage to a point ten miles
this side Of Meeker. A small band of
Indians followed the stage for fully TWEEN
five miles, but offered no violence.